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June 21, 2013

Breaking Barriers: Success Stories of South Asian Attorneys Becoming Leaders in Politics and Shaping Policy. June 21, 2013. Agenda, Introduction + Panelists. Introduction. Agenda Meet the Panelists Policy v. Politics Overcoming Challenges & Breaking Barriers Case Studies Discussion.

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June 21, 2013

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  1. Breaking Barriers:Success Stories of South Asian Attorneys Becoming Leaders in Politics and Shaping Policy • June 21, 2013

  2. Agenda,Introduction + Panelists

  3. Introduction • Agenda • Meet the Panelists • Policy v. Politics • Overcoming Challenges & Breaking Barriers • Case Studies • Discussion

  4. Panelists • Harmeet Dhillon • Ro Khanna • Anurag Varma • Moderator: Gaurab Bansal

  5. South Asian Americans by the Numbers

  6. The Numbers1 • Over 3.4 million South Asians live in the United States. • Indians comprise the largest segment of the South Asian community, making up over 80% of the total population, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalis, Sri Lankans, Bhutanese, and Maldivians. • The South Asian community grew 81% between 2000 and 2010. • Five states with largest SA population: CA, NY, NJ, TX, IL • Five metros with largest SA population: NYC, CHI, DC, LA, SF/OAK • The South Asian population grew the most in Charlotte, NC, increasing 187% over the past ten years. This was followed by Phoenix; Richmond, VA; Raleigh, NC, San Antonio, Seattle, and Stockton, CA; Jacksonville, FL; Harrisburg, PA; and Las Vegas. • The number of South Asian Americans who are eligible to vote increased between 99% and 471% since 2000. The number of eligible South Asian American voters continues to increase. • 1. “A DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT OF SOUTH ASIANS IN THE UNITED STATES” prepared by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and Asian American Federation based on U.S. Census Data, July 2012 (available at http://saalt.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Demographic-Snapshot-Asian-American-Foundation-201211.pdf)

  7. Not just doctors and engineers (sort of) • Notable South Asian Americans in Politics and Policy: • Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) • Governor Nikki Haley (R-SC) • Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) • Representative Tulsi Gabbard* (D-HI) • Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney** (S.D.N.Y.) • Raj Shah, Administrator USAID** • Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress … plus a number of state legislators, candidates for office, staff members in Congress and in the Obama Administration, think tank staffers and state party leaders on both sides of the aisle.

  8. Case Studies

  9. Case Study #1 A public interest attorney has spent the first two years of her practice working at a civil legal services agency in San Francisco. She is passionate about increasing access to civil legal services, and believes that state and municipal governments have chronically underfunded the justice system. She may run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors or the California state legislature in the next five years, likely challenging a longtime incumbent. She serves on the board of the young lawyers division of the California State Bar Association. She has not volunteered on any campaigns recently, is not involved in a political party and is not yet involved in non-legal civic organizations. Discussion: • What are our attorney’s blind spots to address in light of her aspiration? • What are two next steps our attorney should take? • What other general advice do you have for our attorney?

  10. Case Study #2 An attorney has spent seven years at an AmLaw Top 20 law firm. She is well regarded and is seen as a shoe-in for partnership within the next 2-3 years. She aspires to enter into government service, most likely as a career attorney at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. She knows a senior partner at her law firm who served as a political appointee in the most recent Bush Administration, and she is interested in learning more about appointments. She is worried that if she does not leave for public service soon she may never do so. She considers herself to be an independent without any strong party affiliation, and accordingly she has not cultivated any significant political connections. Discussion: • Should our attorney pursue partnership, or make the jump to public service? • How will her path differ if she seeks a career position v. appointment? • What are two next steps our attorney should take?

  11. Case Study #3 Our young attorney is a 1L. She does not have much interest in practicing law at a law firm (large or small). She also does not necessarily want to practice public interest law. She is interested in jumping right into the political and policy worlds. She aspires to either work at the highest levels of California politics and policy or achieve a similar perch in Washington, DC. Our attorney has done well during her 1L year, and is considering summer externship opportunities. She is passionate about education and health care policy, but also wants to learn more about other areas of domestic policy. Discussion: • What types of organizations might be interested in hiring young lawyers who do not necessarily want to practice law? • Should our attorney pursue some sort of public policy degree? Should she consider practice more seriously? • What are two next steps our attorney should take? • What other general advice do you have for our attorney?

  12. Questions & Discussion

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